to wonder why some people are so pathetic when it comes to their cars and the snow

[Ormirian]

I live 2 miles from work. So I walked. The office is half empty. I can understand that for some of the staff because they live in the back of beyond or miles away and the snow was really bad this morning. But the majority of people working here are locals who drove in against all advice on the radio and in the face of common sense, and then panicked and drove back home again in case they got stranded .

Why can they not get out of their bloody cars and walk! It's perfectly safe underfoot - I walked in OK with a good pair of boots and well-wrapped up.

The factory staff have to work their normal shifts but the office staff have all buggered off when most of them could have found a way of getting in to work safely. I feel ashamed TBH - it's feels as if there's one rule for us and another rule for them.

I broke my leg in May, this weather absolutely terrifies me.
The snow is fine but the ice that comes after is awful.
I really could not go through that whole pallaver again and I would not walk 2 miles on ice for anything.

Wld be happy to walk in the road though as its gritted but it depends on where you are?

Our main road is gritted but the road we live in isn't. Which is why I'd not use the car.

How far is reasonable for walking to work? 2 weeks ago when the snow was bad here I walked to and from work for 5 days. 5 miles each way, I work till 10pm so wasn't getting home until half eleven. My DH thought I was crazy but my employers didn't bat an eyelid and I got no extra thanks for it.

It is snowing heavily here again, not working today but so don't want to have to walk for the rest of the week. My feet still bear the blisters.

I walked a five mile round trip to the shops yesterday. It was bloody hard work and took three hours but definitely worth it. I walked to work last winter and got hit by an out of control van on the way home so it's not risk free but less risky than in a car - providing you have a high vis jacket, lights, boots and a phone.

I thought that a high vis jacket etc would not make much difference in these conditions, because I will only walk on footpaths*, and if somebody is driving on the footpath, they are obviously out of control, and seeing me won't help.

*yes, I know I'll cross roads, but with a huge amount of care.

Just had a row with DD because I said she needed to leave the panto early in order to be able to get home.

'oh but I don't want to miss the end'

'the shoe fits, she marries him' (Cinderella)

My DH has decided to go out in the car now - we are in Cheltenham - to Gloucester. Not because it is essential mind you. He thinks he will be fine, I've just told him he's an idiot if he goes.

" 'the shoe fits, she marries him'"

Ooh you spoiler you.

Why Mizu, what the bloody hell is in Gloucester that he needs so urgently? #

I like the way this thread has turned into a Cheltenham and Gloucester snow grumbles thread

Ormirian

somebody on another thread mentioned that you can buy ice grips for shoes. I never knew about that. They sound like a good idea. I will buy them in future.

God knows getoff, he is still pottering around in the kitchen so maybe he has changed his mind. It is pelting down with snow now. He wants to go and see friends, hasn't gone to work today cos of the snow up at birdlip and wants to get out of the house. I've told him if he goes out he prob won't be back today.

I take your point SingingBear, but I promise that my walking boots are the best footwear that I own for this weather.

Don't own any wellies actually, it's possible that my thoughts on wellies have been biased by having crappy cheapo ones that didn't fit all through my childhood.

DH has realised how bad the weather actually is and has decided not to go out in the car . Thank god for that.

Going back to the roads in Cheltenham, our suspension was buggered last year when we had our MOT done and we had to have it fixed. This year, something is wrong with it again and it has cost us loads again. The guy at Kwikfit said it was probably due to the roads in Cheltenham being crap.

I would walk to work although my students would probably be too busy playing in the snow. However what do I do with the DC's? Take a 4, 2 and 4 month old on a 5 mile hike through the snow to a nursery which would probably be closed?

Is hypothetical by the way as it is not term time and I am on maternity leave - but its not always that straightforward!

DP has picked up dd now, he just tried to go home via Leckhampton Hill (why???) - loads of roads closed everywhere.

DD thinks it is all a great adventure

DH works in an office with 3 main departments. 2 were told it's too dangerous so they should go home - his stayed. He is fine staying but how can it be too dangerous for two thirds of a comapny and not the other third?

He works an hour away in Exeter but was able to walk in to the local office to work remotely. No way would he have made it to Exeter. He still had an hour walk!

Our garage said our suspension and damaged tyre caused by the numerous potholes in Glos, dh did three trips to Coop today so at least we now have food for Xmas

I live 42 miles away from work so walking's out of the question and it would take 3 trains to get to work. I've just brought stuff home!

My dp is a postie and walked into work today. We alreadyhad 6 inches of snow from saturday andit started again at 9am, it has just stopped here.

They were under the impression they would be sorting mail ready to deliver when weather was better.

We live in a very rural location none of the roads had been gritted so it was treacherous. There manager told them to go out 2 in a van and deliver the mail as normal to stop customers complaining about lack of mail.

My dps round is furthest from the office on its own so he asked the manager if she was coming out with him, her answer was im staying here incase any customers phone. I was fuming by her attitude and lack of care on the behalf of her employees, but at least she kept her customers happy even if she could have had a couple of seriously injured posties out of it.